Tricuspid repair in mitral regurgitation surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Concomitant tricuspid repair in MR surgery is indicated in patients with severa tricuspid regurgitation, however, concomitant repair in less-than-severe TR patients is still a matter of debate. METHODS: In December 2021, we systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases for randomised control trials (RCTs) comparing isolated MR surgery versus MR surgery with concomitant TR annuloplasty. Four studies were included, resulting in 651 patients (323 in the prophylactic tricuspid intervention group and 328 in the no tricuspid intervention group). RESULTS: Our meta-analysis showed a similar all-cause mortality and perioperative mortality for concomitant prophylactic tricuspid repair when compared with no tricuspid intervention (pooled odds ratio (OR), 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25–1.15, P = 0.11; I(2) = 0% and pooled OR, 0.54; 95% CI: 0.25–1.15, P = 0.11; I(2) = 0%, respectively) in patients undergoing MV surgery. despite a significantly lower TR progression (pooled OR, 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02–0.24, P < 0.01; I(2) = 0%). Additionally, similar New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes III and IV were identified in both concomitant prophylactic tricuspid repair and no tricuspid intervention, despite a lower trend in the tricuspid intervention group (pooled OR, 0.63; 95% CI: 0.38–1.06, P = 0.08; I(2) = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Our pooled analyses suggested that TV repair at the time of MV surgery in patients with moderate or less-than-moderate TR did not impact on perioperative or postoperative all-cause mortality, despite reducing TR severity and TR progression following the intervention. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13019-023-02158-9.